APBP Annual Awards

Nominations for the 2023 Annual Awards has been extended! Please submit your nomination by July 3, 2023.

We invite you to nominate your colleagues for an APBP Award! Please read the awards criteria below before completing the form. On the nomination form, you will have the ability to upload a file with information and background on your nominee. Please provide information on why the nominee is deserving of the APBP award and how they specifically meet some or all of the criteria noted. In order to provide the reviewers a solid sense of your nominee, it is strongly recommended to include the nominee's resume or CV, at least one letter of support, etc. Letters of support should be addressed to the Awards Jury. Your nomination should be concise, yet thorough and informative. 

After reading through the criteria below, scroll to the very bottom of the page to access the link to the Nomination Form.

Please read the award criteria carefully and make sure that your nominee meets the minimum requirements of the specific award before you submit a nomination form. For example, do not nominate someone who is older than 30 for a Young Professional of the Year award. Also note:

  1. Nomination forms may only be submitted by APBP members in good standing.
  2. A nominee for any APBP Professional of the Year Award must be a current APBP member. (Not sure? Use the Member Directory to search for the member, or contact us.) Nominees for the Young Professional of the Year must also be under age 30. APBP Board members are not eligible to receive an award but may nominate an APBP member for an award.
  3. A nominee for the Lifetime Achievement Award need not be an APBP member, although the person's membership status will be considered.
  4. No self-nominations please.

Award Criteria:

Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made a substantial commitment to the profession during their lifetime and who has shown excellence in the field of bicycle and pedestrian planning, design, advocacy, research, or education. The award distinguishes those whose vision and determination have made their communities better places to bicycle and walk and who inspire the rest of us. This award is open to both APBP members and non-members who have contributed to our profession. A person may be nominated posthumously, after retirement, or while still working in the field.

Past winners: Dan Burden (2000), Peter Lagerwey (2001), John Fegan (2002), Andy Clarke (Distinguished Service, 2003), Bill Wilkinson and John Williams (2004), John LaPlante (2005), Bill Feldman (2006), Michael Ronkin (2007), Linda Crider and Suzan Pinsof (2008), Bettina Zimny (2009), Lois Thibault (2010), Mary Meletiou and Tom Huber (2011), Charlie Zegeer (2012), Anne Lusk (2013), Jeff Olson (2014), Deb Hubsmith (2015), Barbara McCann (2016), Norma Moores (2017), Randy Wade (2018), Sally Flocks (2019), Peter Furth (2020), Cara Seiderman (2021), Susan Sauvé (2022). 

Professional of the Year Awards recognize the achievements of pedestrian and bicycle professionals made during the last 12 months. Separate awards are made to people practicing in the public sector, private sector, nonprofit sector, those who are under age 30, and for those in research. These awards are open to APBP members only. 

Public Sector Professional of the Year Award recognizes a person practicing in the public sector who in the past 12 months has accomplished one or more of the following:

  • Initiated, advanced, and/or published innovative research
  • Brought about institutional change to increase the quality and accessibility of pedestrian and/or bicycle improvements for all individuals
  • Provided educational and training opportunities for new and existing professionals
  • Was active or involved in other organizations to share and expand the knowledge base both on and off the job
  • Promoted and encouraged equity, diversity, and inclusion in transportation decision making
  • Promoted racial and social justice in communities through their work
  • Advanced the perception of the profession in the eyes of the public.

Past winners: Rochelle Wheeler (2007), Jim Ercolano (2008), Rob Burchfield (2009), Leslie Meehan and Jim Sebastian (2010), Nicole Freedman (2011), Kristin Bennett (2012), Joshuah Mello and Emily Snyder (2013), Stephen Patchan (2014), Sean Co (2015), Dan Goodman (2016), Julie Walcoff (2017), Katherine Glowacz (2018), Paul Martin (2019) Armi De Francia (2020), John Brazil (2021), Hannah Pritchard (2022).

Private Sector Professional-of-the-Year Award recognizes an individual working in the private sector who in the past 12 months has accomplished one or more of the following:

  • Published or presented innovative research
  • Produced high quality plans and designs
  • Provided educational and training opportunities for new and existing professionals
  • Helped to expand the quality of employment opportunities in the field for a diverse range of individuals
  • Promoted and encouraged equity, diversity, and inclusion in transportation decision making
  • Promoted racial and social justice in communities through their work
  • Volunteered their time in the field.

(Nominations by members of the same firm or agency are permitted for the private sector award, but not favored.)

Past winners: Mia Birk (2007), Jennifer Toole (2008), no award made in 2009, Andréa White-Kjoss (2010), Marc Jolicoeur (2011), Jean-Francois Rheault (2012), Michael King (2013), Nick Jackson (2014), Jessica Roberts (2015), Ryan Johnson (2016), award not given in 2017 or 2018, Brian Patterson (2019), Tamika Butler (2020), Dru van Hengel (2021). 

Nonprofit Sector Professional-of-the-Year Award recognizes a person working in the not-for-profit sector who in the past 12 months has accomplished one or more of the following:

  • Published or presented innovative research
  • Undertook innovative community engagement initiatives
  • Influenced policy decisions and funding
  • Provided educational and training opportunities to members of the community
  • Promoted and encouraged equity, diversity, and inclusion in transportation decision making
  • Promoted racial and social justice in communities through their work
  • Helped to expand the quality of opportunities in the field for a diverse range of individuals

Past winners: Darren Flusche (2013), James Wilson (2014), Barb Chamberlain (2015), Tamika Butler (2016), Leah Shahum (2017), award not given in 2018, Catherine Girves (2019), Michelle Lieberman (2020), Darnel Harris (2022). 

Research Professional-of-the-Year Award recognizes a person who in the past 12 months has accomplished one or more of the following:

  • Led or worked on research that advanced our field meaningfully
  • Advanced the professional knowledge of others through research
  • Examples of outstanding contributions in pursuit of research goals (e.g. process improvements, program creation, substantive contributions to obtaining external funding, idea creation, innovation)
  • Promoted and encouraged equity, diversity, and inclusion in transportation decision making
  • Promoted racial and social justice in communities through their work

Past winners: Trisalyn Nelson (2018), Robert Schneider (2019), Jennifer Dill (2020), Dr. Sirisha Kothuri (2021), Laura Sandt (2022). 

Young Professional of the Year Award recognizes a person under age 30 whose leadership and accomplishments distinguish that person from their cohort.  Please reference the applicable bullet points from the Public Sector, Private Sector, Nonprofit Sector, or Research Professional descriptions.

Past winners: Kathryn Moore (2009), Dan Jatres (2010), Brian Graham (2011), Tessa Greegor and Stefanie Seskin (2012), Kyle Wagenschutz (2013), Dr. Adonia Lugo (2014), Jessie Holzer (2015), Carlos Hernandez (2016), Grace Kyung (2017), Gwen Shaw (2018), Danielle Hess (2019), Matt Pinder (2020), Tobi Otulana (2021), Austin Taylor (2022).